LUCENA CITY, Philippines—Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera may run for Quezon province’s first congressional district seat in next year’s election.

Devanadera was at the Commission on Elections provincial office here Saturday morning with her son, Quezon Board Member Angelo Devanadera, who filed his certificate of candidacy for reelection.

When asked over the phone if she would also file her CoC for representative of the province’s first district, she replied: “The last day of filing is Dec. 1.”

When asked if she had informed President Macapagal-Arroyo of her intention to seek a congressional seat next year, Devanadera did not directly answer the question but would only say: “The President knows I’m here in Quezon today.”

Rumors have been circulating that Devanadera will challenge incumbent 1st District Rep. Mark Enverga, who filed his CoC after the justice secretary left the Comelec office.

Devanadera was a former three-term mayor of Sampaloc town and also once headed the Mayors League of the Philippines.

Sought for comment, Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez (3rd District-Lakas), confirmed that Devanadera was really inclined to seek a congressional seat in the province.

“I think she (Devandera) will really run,” Suarez told the Inquirer.

Suarez, who represents the province’s Bondoc Peninsula, filed his CoC for the same post Saturday morning under the administration Lakas-Kampi-CMD party.

Former Quezon Governor Eduardo Rodriguez has declared his intention to run against Suarez in next year’s elections.

Suarez was accompanied by his wife, former congresswoman Aleta Suarez, and son, Environment Assistant Secretary David Suarez, who is seeking a rematch with incumbent Governor Rafael Nantes (LP).

The young Suarez lost to Nantes in a hotly contested gubernatorial race in 2007.

David Suarez will reportedly team up with Board Member Vicente Alcala, who will run for vice governor.